Vaporizing type oil burner and ignition means



Jan. 15, 1952 B. l. J. STAMM VAPORIZING TYPE OIL BURNER AND IGNITION MEANS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 19, 1947 [awe/don v J Sta/77m Jan. 15, 1952 B. l. J. STAMM 2,582,890

VAPORIZING TYPE OIL BURNER AND IGNITION MEANS Filed Dec. 19, 1947 31 E mum m 30 ,1

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Illll 15a 3 i 157 5 5 2 7 the form of the spark type of ignitor.

Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VAPORIZING TYPE OIL BURNER AND IGNITION MEANS Benjamin I. J. Stamm, New York, N. Y.

Application December 19, 1947, Serial No. 792,638

Claims.

'This invention relates to the ignition of oil burners of the vaporizing type. More specifically the invention is embodied in a method and apparatus for this purpose.

At the present time, the most widely accepted" practice is to ignite oil burners of the vaporizing type manually, employing a wick lighter.

Automatic ignition has also been provided in Its disadvantages are that it requires complex control equipment and while effective, involves the danger of explosion.

Devices have also been proposed which employ electric resistance ignition. Some of these preheat the oil and vapor several times before it reaches the bowl of the burner so as to bring it to ignition temperature before it contacts the igniting element. Others require the confining of the oil vapor to an enclosed chamber for ignition, and moreover require forced draft for their initial operation.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the above types of ignition and provides a simple and effective method and apparatus for the purpose.

In accordance with the method of the invention, a portion of the oil supply is vaporized at a local area of its surface. The vapor so generated is then passed through a restricted heating zone, isolated from the main combustion chamber, to a point above the normal level of the oil contained in the oil bowl, the vapor, while passing through this zone, being heated but combustion being prevented by the width of the zone, for at least a substantial portion of its length. The heated vapor then emerges from the zone into the combustion space where ignition temperature ensures so as to support the initiating flame and this flame is directed on to the main body of oil to ignite it.

The vaporizing, heating and ignition are preferably accomplished by the heat from an electric element. By choice, the vapor is caused to rise because of its own buoyancy, no forced feed or draft being employed. The flame is preferably directed by a draft on to the main body of oil.

This method may conveniently be carried. out in an apparatus constructed according to the invention. This apparatus includes a body member adapted to have a first part placed at least adjacent to the surface of an ofl supply, which may be either the main oil supply in the bowl of the burner or may be the oil in a fuel passage leading to the main oil supply. The member has another part projecting into the combustion I space. An elongated electrically insulated pasmaterial.

sageway extends through the member from the first-mentioned part to the other part.

If the ignitor is made entirely of a ceramic material, the passage is an opening through this If the body member is made partly of metal and partly of insulating material, the passageway will at least be lined with insulating material and may be an insert portion of insulating material within a housing of metal. An electrical resistance element extends from said first part to said other part through the passage and has a portion projecting into the combustion space. The passageway .is of a cross-sectional dimension eifective to permit oil vapor to rise through it, but, at the same time, to prevent combustion being supported in the passage- Thus, on the element being energized, the portion adjacent to the oil is adapted to vaporize the oil adjacent to the entrance of the passage. In some arrangements, the element is just above the oil so that its heat can radiate to the oil. In others, it is immersed in the oil. The intermediate portion of the element is adapted to heat the vapor rising through the passageway and the projecting portion to flash the vapor as it merges from the outlet end.

The member described may be mounted in the oil bowl, the passageway communicating with the oil supply through a passage separated from the oil bowl. Alternatively, the member may be suspended or otherwise held above the oil in the oil bowl.

Electrical circuit means is provided for energizing the element and the device is generally employed in combination with the usual features of the vaporizing type of'oil burner, including an oil bowl adapted to contain a body of oil for burner operation and a blower adapted to provide a source of forced draft. Preferably, the initial or pilot flame is formed by the ignitor independently of the forced draft, the latter being brought into play to divert the pilot flame t0 the main body of oil, so as to cause complete ignition.

The insulating member itself, when of porous structure, collects some oil which serves as a primary source of oil vapor. The heating of the entire insulating member transmits heat to the main body of oil adjacent the insulating member, thereby facilitating speed of flame transmission from the initiating flame to the main body of oil.

According to a preferred and more specific aspect of the invention, the ignition assembly is made up of an elongated housing, the bottom of bottom of the insert and up through the other 3 opening, leaving the passageways in the top-"of the insert preferably in the form of a circuitous or spiral head and leads extend fromthe-head to electrical connections outside the combustion chamber. These leads are connected to a suitable electrical circuit adapted to provide the necessary current for energizing the electric element. 7

As an alternative construction, the applicant contemplates the wire passing upwardly through one channel in the insert; extending in a circuitous loop at the top of the insert and passing 'downwardly through the other channel in the insert. In this arrangement the leads to the electrical circuit emerge adjacent the bottom end of the insert.

The applicant also contemplates the form of the device in which the housing and insert are made integral of a' suitable insulating material. The applicant also contemplates the positioning of the unit in diagonal position and in a position for example extending into the side of the bowl as opposed to the preferred position mentioned above.

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will be made to the accompanying-drawings illustrating some of its preferred embodiments, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of'aburner bowl of a vaporizing type oil burner illustrating an igniting device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of Figure 1 further illustrating the construction thereof and including a circuit means.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of an ignitor constructed according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a section-of Figure 3- on'the line Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view partially in 1 section of a vaporizing oil-burner unit embodying the invention.

Figure 6 is a front elevation'of an alternative form of ignitor.

Figure '7 is a section of Figure 6 on the line 1-1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view partially in section illustratingan alternative form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a section'of Figure 8 on the line 99.

FigureiO is a fragmentary view partially in section illustrating a further method of installing the device. Figure 11 is a fragmentary view partially in section illustrating a further alternative form of the invention.

Referring particularlyto Figure'3, a preferred form of the ignitor assemblyZU comprises a hous -ing 22, and'an insert 24. The housing 22' is threaded for a portion of its length and'has a centrally disposed bore of asufiicient diameter to allowtheinsert 24 to'removably fittherein. The j channels 26' extend the length of the insert 24 vapor passage.

and are of a sufficiently greater diameter than a Nichrome wire 28 to provide a space around the wire 28 for the passage of oil vapor. The wire 28 forms an electrical resistance element which extends through the channels 26 with a portion projecting beyond the insert 24' in a circuitous or spiral head with a further extension forming leads for connection to a suitable electrical circuit. In this preferred construction of- -the -ignitor assembly 20, the housing'22 is" made of heatresistant metal. The insert 24 is preferably composed of a ceramic material having insulating properties.

-An alternatiile form of the ignitor is shown in Figure 6. In this construction the ignitor body 30 is shown as' having the housing and the insert integral. Channels 32 extend the length of the 'body 30'and two" of these are adapted to carry -anel'ectrical element 34. The third centrally disposed channel 32 is provided for additional The channels 32 are alsowof a sufiiciently greater diameter thanthe wire 34 to allow spacebetween the-wire 34 and the walls of the channels 32 for the passage-of-oil vapor.

Other'alternative constructions are illustrated in Figures 8 and 11. The ignitor 40 shownin Figure '8 may be constructed as comprisinga housing and an insert asillustrated in Figure" 3, or as having housing and insert integral asillustrated in Figure 6. The ignitor 42 isshown in Figure 11 as having a right angle extension. :This form of the device may be also constructed in two parts or the housing andinsert may be integral. The arrangement of the electrical element and channels are the same as those-described by Figures 3 and 6. I i

In these preferred constructions of theignitor, the housing is preferably made of stainless steel. The insert, or the ignitor whenhousing and insert are integral, is composed of a heatresistant ceramic material having insulating properties, for example, natural stone,v being a steatite variet of talc (3lVigOASiOzHzO) which occurs in nature in dense formations andis characterized by its workability and its quality for hardening by kiln firing. The preferred material is a --porous variety approaching the physical strength of dry porous porcelain and is sold under the trade-markAlsimag.222.

Where the material employed for the insulating member or insert is porous, theinsert or 1 body may'become impregnated with oil, this oilretaining property proving to be. a distinct-advantage for the initial lighting and-alsofor the spreading of the initiating flame tothemain body of oil. The oil retained by the insert or ignitor body provides a primary source of oil vapor when the element is energized-and the body of the ignitor becomes heated.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, Z-and 3, the oil bowl has an outer annular wall Brand an inner annular wall 52. An oil retaining well 53 is located between the walls 5| and 52 -with an inner perforated sleeve 54 andouter perforatedsleeve 56 extending vertically from-the oil well 53. Anoil supply-passage 55 extends into the oil bowl and an opening 58 is-provided in the oil passage 55 to allow theoilto pass into the oil retaining well 53. A furtheropen- :ingfifl in the oil supplypa-ssage-55 is threaded to engage the threaded end of an ignitor'2l'l. The ignitor 28 extends through theopening-BU so that a portion of the ignitor 2Dand the-wire 28 containedwithiri the ignitor is immersed in 'the main body of oil in the oil bowl 50.

Extending portions or leads from the wire element 28 extend to an insulator 52. The insulator 62 passes through the outer annular wall and the outer perforated cylinder 56 and provides a passage for a suitable electrical connection to the extended portion of the wire 28. A circuit means connected to the leads of the wire 28 is adapted to energize the wire 28 to provide heat for the vaporization of a portion of the oil contained in the oil supply passage 55.

The circuit means illustrated is an example of an operative means only. Other suitable means may be employed. Referring to the circuit means illustrated in Figure 2, a primary circuit 55 leads from a suitable source of power. A switch 66 is adapted to make or break the circuit 65. A step down transformer 68 is connected between the circuit 55 and a secondary circuit 10. Suitable electrical apparatus can ,be used in conjunction with the ignitor to operate on alternating current or direct current.

In the preferred form of the device, a blower 80 shown in Figure 5 is started after the ignitor has caused an initiating flame to be formed. The forced air from the blower 80 passes through the inner and outer perforated sleeves 54 and 55, and directs the initiating flame onto The timing of this operation may be controlled automatically.

Referring particularly to Figure 8, an alternative form and installation of the ignitor is illustrated. In this embodiment a portion of the ignitor extends into afuel supply passage I55 outside the burner bowl, and a right angle extension of the ignitor 40 extends through the outer annular wall I5I and the outer perforated sleeve I56. The wire element I28 in the ignitor 40 extends from the extension of the ignitor to a position above the oil retaining well I53. Leads extend from the end of the ignitor 40 adjacent the fuel supply passage 155 to a suitable electrical circuit. An opening I5? is provided at end of the fuel supply passage I to allow the oil to pass into the oil retaining well I53.

In Figure 10 an oil bowl I50 is illustrated as having no special provision made for the insertion of the ignitor 30. In this construction for example, a bracket BI is provided and the ignitor 30 attached to the bracket 8|. The bracket 8| is attached to the inner perforated sleeve 54 with the leads extending to the insulator I62.

The ignitor 42 is shown in Figure 11 as being installed in the oil bowl 50 in the same manner as shown and described by Figure 1. While the applicant prefers to position these various forms of the ignitor with the lower end immersed in the oil, it is also contemplated that the ignitor may be disposed as shown in Figure 10 with the ignitor end positioned above the surface of the oil.

When the switch 86- is closed the current flows through the circuit 62, the transformer 58, and the secondary circuit I0, thereby energizing the Nichrome wire element 28. The heat so produced causes oil adjacent the lower end of the ignitor 20 to vaporize. The vapor so formed rises by its own buoyancy and passes upwards through the channels 25 in contact with the wire element 28. This confining of the oil vapor with the hot element 28 raises the temperature of the vapor to a point where on the vapor emerging from the channels 26 at the upper end of the ignitor 20 and coming in contact with the exposed portion of the wire 28 in the presence of air, the said vapor ignites and forms an initiating flame. At a predetermined period after the formation of the initiating flame the blower 39 is started. This operation may be controlled automatically, for

example by means of a relay apparatus. The forced air from the blower passes through the inner and outer perforated sleeves 54 and 55 and directs the initiating flame onto the surface of the main body of oil contained in the oil retaining well 59 thereby igniting same.

I claim:

1. An oil burner of the vaporizing type, comprising, in combination, an oil bowl adapted to contain a body of oil for burner operation and constituting a combustion chamber, means for supplying oil to said bowl, means for maintaining oil in said bowl at a normal level, means for supplying air to the bowl, a conduit mounted in said bowl and forming a restricted passageway leading from a point at least within heating distance of the surface of the oil at its normal level in the oil bowl, said conduit being open at both ends but imperforate throughout its length, an electrical resistance element extending through said conduit having a part projecting from the conduit in heat transfer relation to the oil and another part extending from said conduit into said 12,: combustion chamber, and means for energizing said element whereby oil is vaporized by said projecting part, the vapor so formed is heated by a part of the element within the conduit, and said vapor is further heated and ignited by a part of the element extending into the combustion chamber where is comes into contact with combustion supporting air, the passageway having a crosssectional dimension larger than said element to permit oil vapor to rise therethrough, but small enough to prevent support of flame therein.

2. An igniting device according to claim 1 wherein the part extending into the combustion chamber includes a coil.

3. An igniting device according to claim 1 in which said conduit is cylindrical and is surrounded by heat-resisting metal housing and a minor portion of the conduit adjacent to the end adjacent to the combustion chamber projects from said. housing in an enlarged head.

4. An oil burner, according to claim 1, in which the restricted passageway leads from a point below said surface of the oil.

5. An oil burner, according to claim 1, in which the restricted passageway leads from a point just above the said surface of the oil.

BENJAMIN I. J. STAIVHVL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date ,493,070 Evans May 6, 1924 1,646,503 Steward Oct. 25, 1927 1,994,720 Little Mar. 19, 1935 2,025,074 Roe Dec. 24, 1935 2,373,759 Hourvitz Apr. 17, 1945 2,448,142 Fell et a1. Aug. 31, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,986 Great Britain of 1885 

